Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother:

To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,

so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom,

God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something,

But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,

in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

But as it is written:

What eye did not see and ear did not hear,
and what never entered the human mind—
God prepared this for those who love Him.

Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ.

According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it.

A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God’s mysteries.

For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?

You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us—and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you!

I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.

This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you.

For though I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I were present.

I say the following as a concession, not as a command.

I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.

About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is.

And I say this, brothers: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,

those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.

A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.

But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—

Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.

Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.

Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes.

Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they may be saved.

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Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Now I praise you because you always remember me and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.

For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.

but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering.

For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.

For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.

But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted.

Love never ends.
But as for prophecies,
they will come to an end;
as for languages, they will cease;
as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
Now I know in part,
but then I will know fully,
as I am fully known.

It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”

since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,

the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says.

And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,

Last of all, as to one abnormally born,
He also appeared to me.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain.

But God gives it a body as He wants, and to each of the seeds its own body.

And just as we have borne
the image of the man made of dust,
we will also bear
the image of the heavenly man.

Now about the collection for the saints: You should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches.

If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.